Cropredy 2025 News

[Adam]

I thought that the music was excellent this year; I didn’t know the majority of the bands, but really enjoyed all of them (that rarely happens!). The lack of the two side big screens didn’t really bother me. The field seemed a bit roomier, but not significantly (I think most people just shuffled a bit down the field. It did feel more like the early 90s Cropredy, which suits me fine. According to someone involved in the management side told my friend that the idea is to carry on till the 60th anniversary in 2027, then sell the festival as a going concern. Could be/ probably is total conjecture, but sounds like a good idea to me, if a buyer can be found.

[Pam FC]

Sat in a jam on the M6 after a great weekend. El Pony a total highlight but then I loved it all. Loved having a bit more room I just hope it worked financially for the vendors. I really felt for The Henry Girls having to follow Mr Plant!

[Dan O.]

According to someone involved in the management side told my friend that the idea is to carry on till the 60th anniversary in 2027, then sell the festival as a going concern. Could be/ probably is total conjecture, but sounds like a good idea to me, if a buyer can be found.

Sounds plausible. However, I remember having a similar moment of conjecture with somebody fairly close to the band along those very lines back in 2002, their 35th anniversary ("they'll push on through to their 40th and plot their next move").  

Glad everyone had a good time. Enjoyed the broadcast of FC's set on Radio Oxford once they'd got going.

My major issue with the reduced capacity is that I simply didn't believe them when they said "6500, that's it". I thought it was a canny marketing technique, a "other festivals have gone under - use it or lose it - this is the number we need to sell to break even, then we'll release some more" appeal to the punters' sense of urgency.

Egg firmly on my face there, however, I'm sure I'm not the only one who missed out for this reason. Also, there are others who like to decide nearer the time, who don't have the money to buy tickets so far in advance, decide at the last minute they want to go, or are simply unable to get away Thursday or Friday due to work or other commitments.

I'd like to see a Saturday only ticket return for the above reason - I'm aware it requires extra infrastructure, etc., but if they've been able to handle it for 40+ years, they should be able to deal with it in 2026.

Seeing all these positive accounts made me want to get in the car first thing yesterday morning and make the 3 hour day trip, and I don't like the fact that unlike in the past, I wasn't able to have a spontaneous dose of Cropredy. I'm not interested in the Brasenose or the COTC, but that big field we know and love. Again, I'm sure I'm not alone. Fingers crossed they'll think again about this...

[Sue & Chris]

According to someone involved in the management side told my friend that the idea is to carry on till the 60th anniversary in 2027, then sell the festival as a going concern. Could be/ probably is total conjecture, but sounds like a good idea to me, if a buyer can be found.

I'd like to see a Saturday only ticket return for the above reason - I'm aware it requires extra infrastructure, etc., but if they've been able to handle it for 40+ years, they should be able to deal with it in 2026.

I sympathise, but I think the point was that they can't handle the cost of the extra infrastructure required for Saturday only tickets anymore.  Because the facilities provided to cater for those coming on Saturday have to be there for the whole three days regardless.  I guess they could make them available in future if the three day tickets don't sell out?

[davidmjs]

My understanding is that one of the main reasons for the curtailed size was actually the lack of some of the main camping fields (due to them being sold), and that this may not be a problem in the future - is that correct?

[Sue & Chris]

My understanding is that one of the main reasons for the curtailed size was actually the lack of some of the main camping fields (due to them being sold), and that this may not be a problem in the future - is that correct?

Don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if Field 4 has been sold to a developer, given its size and proximity to the village.

Having said that, Field 7c was empty, I think, so there was space for more campers.

[PaulT]

I overheard a conversation at the Talking Elephant stall on Thursday about Ashley H not being able to attend this year - it appears he is currently experiencing some mobility problems.  Really hope this is temporary... fingers crossed he'll be back next year.

[kenhughes]

My understanding is that one of the main reasons for the curtailed size was actually the lack of some of the main camping fields (due to them being sold), and that this may not be a problem in the future - is that correct?

Don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if Field 4 has been sold to a developer, given its size and proximity to the village.

Having said that, Field 7c was empty, I think, so there was space for more campers.

They could have compensated for that on F7c, which was not really used. Then there is also F7d which would probably make more sense than F4.

However, F4 would be the one of choice for most to expand beyond 6500, I would think for most people. It is a flood plain, so will it be sold for housing? If you look back at the history of planning applications reported/discussed on the village facebook page, it might be doomed before it starts.

Regarding Saturday only tickets; too big a drain on the overall income when factored in with the additional infrastructure costs. So, I am sorry to be so on the side of the festival team on this one, but it is about survival not what we want.

Those of you who did not fancy 3 days this year (and I have loads of respect for those of you who cannot manage it for physical/logistical reasons) might want to factor in this year's line up. Thursday was quality, Friday was "the best Friday at the festival ever" (Simon) and Saturday mostly kept it going (Percy was a great bonus, the the band before him was also really good).

Simon, Peggy (and Gareth?) are getting older, but the main source of their income is the festival. Why sell it when they could just curate it if they needed to from a distance? This would be my worst nightmare thought that they would even consider doing that.

Now that the 6500 were sold this year "which would mean 2026 goes ahead" we are in a good place. I think tickets for next year will sell well as they are more of a scarce resource and this year's festival was such a great success. I hope they go to 7500 because this year laid so many SOUND foundations for growth.

[Chris from Fieldtown]

I’m not really a joiner of groups , so few of you know me personally, I think I’ve done the toast once but this morning I just wanted to share.
I’ve read about this years fest and it having the  vibe of several years ago …..
I went with a group of 18 friends for over 20 yrs , always thought I would……
Then in 2011 , Gareth my best male mate , aged 59 and 7 days younger than me died .My wife (Sheena) , Gareth’s widow, Ce and I put his ashes on the field in 2012 during MOTL. it was never the same for Sheen and Ce after that they couldn’t go again. I tried a few yrs of going on my own , then another of our original group, John ( Fred,he’d worked in a quarry everyone called him Fred) took his own life in 2018, so I cut Cropredy off , several reasons , part of which I always said were about lineups but I think there were deeper reasons.
So last night I listened on line to Fairports and for first time in a long time let myself think of all,of us and John and Gareth and the past. The 2 day fests, the beers on the gravestones, outside Red Lion, the laughs, the gnomes, the village hall tables we took with us for tge gazebo outside our circle of tents/ vans , the wheelbarrow ( Fred and I used to wheelbarrow chairs etc for 18 people to the field to the tune of the dam busters )
They were good memories, I had a cry and wished I’d been there this yr.
Thanks for putting up with my ramble , I just had to write it down…..

Heartfelt, thanks for sharing. Cropredy is more than just a music festival, it's part of so many people's stories. Just maybe you will feel the time is right to revisit at some time in the future assuming Fairport continue.I like the fact the overall size has returned to a more compact festival.

[Amethyst (Jenny)]

I loved every moment, I won’t talk about who I liked best nor anything
about what could happen in the future.

All I want to say is that sitting there one afternoon with blue sky , friends and music, remembering my first time in 1990, I reaslised that this was pure contentment, there was absolutely nothing in the whole year that could come close to this for my total enjoyment.

So a big thank you to our Fairpor and every one involved in this huge organisation.

THANK YOU 💚🩷💙

[Lubiloo (Lorna)]

I loved every moment, I won’t talk about who I liked best nor anything
about what could happen in the future.

All I want to say is that sitting there one afternoon with blue sky , friends and music, remembering my first time in 1990, I reaslised that this was pure contentment, there was absolutely nothing in the whole year that could come close to this for my total enjoyment.

So a big thank you to our Fairpor and every one involved in this huge organisation.

THANK YOU 💚🩷💙

Well said, Jenny!